When you think of gacha games, it’s likely you’ll think of games like Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai: Star Rail. While these are just three of the many games in this genre, I’ve recently been thinking about my own journey with Gacha games. In fact, my own adventure in the gacha games genre started with Genshin Impact back when it first launched! With that, I decided to do some research and find out just how long I’ve been playing gacha games and what I enjoy about them.
Table of Contents
What are Gacha Games?
Firstly, where does the name ‘gacha games’ come from?
Well, it comes from the Japanese words ‘gachapon’/’gashapon’, which are the small vending machines that dispense the little toys in capsules. The word represents two aspects of the experience with ‘gacha’, mimicking the sound of turning the machine’s mechanism, and ‘pon’, representing the sound made when the toy drops into the bottom to be collected.
These machines are seen quite commonly worldwide, with in more recent years the likes of Bandai Namco opening stores featuring a number of these gashapon machines across the United Kingdom.
When it comes to video games, it’s a similar experience in a way, just virtually. Players use in-game currency to pull or roll a randomised chance to unlock a variety of outcomes. These usually give you a chance to unlock rare cosmetics, characters, weapons or items.
However, while these types of games can be played sensibly and safely by saving up in-game earned currency to be in with the chance of a reward, they can be risky. Many games in this genre have additional microtransactions. Those where you can spend a particular amount of money to gain additional in-game currency to use against these rewards. While done in the right way and in moderation it’s fine however, there is a risk that the gamble of spending money for more opportunities can become addicting.
Although this post is looking at more of an overview of gacha games and my own journey, it’s important to remember to be mindful when playing this genre of games and keep in mind the risks that can come with them. It’s also absolutely okay to play these games without making any additional transactions or making them every now and then. Ultimately these games are usually free to play and can be played that way. It might just sometimes mean working harder in game to get the currency you need.
Most importantly, make sure you have fun when playing your chosen game!
Genshin Impact
My very first gacha game was Genshin Impact. I’d seen a lot of hype about this new game online, and it had come up to download, so I did just that. At the time I didn’t know much about the game, just it sounded fun and I liked the art style. Needless to say, it took a while to download due to the demand, but eventually it was ready to play.
Going in blind, I had no idea what to expect, and to be honest, I just kept playing and playing. I wasn’t fussed about unlocking more characters or anything like that at the time. I was content with what I had. If I’m honest, I didn’t really understand how it all worked when I first started playing Genshin Impact, which was probably another reason why I ignored it for so long.
I carried on playing on and off for a few years, and I think I ended up pulling a few characters and bits here and there. I haven’t played Genshin Impact, so I’m not sure if there have been any changes or improvements to the gacha side of the game or not. From what I played, however, it was fun but not a game I can see myself returning to at the moment.
Infinity Nikki
Well, this is probably the most experience I’ve had with a gacha game more recently, and, if you’ve followed my content for a while, you know this is a favourite of mine. Having started my quest with Infinity Nikki since launch, I’ve seen the game grow and a variety of different seasonal events for the game. This is also the most I’ve experienced any form of the gacha mechanics in a game, too.
Although Infinity Nikki is a free-to-play game, it has a number of optional additional microtransactions. I have, on a handful of occasions, made additional purchases, be it currency, cosmetics or items. While I’ve aimed to play as much as possible without spending additional money and just use the in game currency towards additional rewards through the game’s various banners, these extra purchases have always been smaller purchases and just once in a blue moon.
I do feel, for me, it’s about balance. I don’t feel the need to reach for the microtransactions and would rather utilise what I can do without spending money as much as possible. That’s worked for me and has kept the Infinity Nikki experience fun and entertaining for me. Don’t get me wrong, there are times I wish I could just spend the extra money to unlock or purchase something, but then that, in a way, takes the fun out of the game.
Wuthering Waves
The most recent gacha game that I’ve been exploring. While the gameplay and story have been interesting and entertaining so far, the game’s gacha side has been a little bit overwhelming for me, to say the least. I think this is mainly due to the fact I’m new to the game, joined at the start of a new update and ultimately learning to navigate a new game.
It’s a game that, as much as I’m enjoying it and there is some cool stuff in the game’s store, it will take some time to get used to understanding how it all works. While similar on the surface, there seems to be a lot more to it. Now that might be because I’m a new player still unlocking things from the opening of the game, I’m not sure, but in time, I’m sure it will all come together.
I can’t see myself reaching and making any additional purchases via microtransactions in the game at the moment. It’s most certainly a game I’ll chip away at over time using items and currency I can obtain from just playing through Wuthering Waves.
While this is just a slight insight into my own journey with three gacha games, there’s more than likely more I’ve played over the years without realising. I do feel that they are certainly games for me that hook me in and grab my attention, but at the same time, it’s important to be mindful when making purchases within the game. The element of surprise when unlocking a new reward is always exciting too! Naturally there are times where I want to try and keep unlocking a reward that I really want, but sometimes that just isn’t possible at all.
For me, I don’t feel that these make or break my experience and can happily play through without needing the additional purchases and just continue to use the in game earned currency instead. Although the variety of optional extras (both paid for with earned currency and bought via optional microtransaction currency) is very good, it’s also nice that they tend to refresh periodically and at good times. Even better, if you are trying to save up currency through playing the game, it doesn’t feel like you need to rush too much.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to make sure you are enjoying what you are playing. While the rewards obtained through the gacha mechanics are nice, be mindful with any microtransaction purchases you make.
Is there a gacha style game that you’ve played and enjoyed? Let me know in the comments below!
